Acerola cherry

Acerola Cherry

The Acerola Cherry (Malpighia emarginata), also known as the Barbados Cherry or West Indian Cherry, is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae. Native to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, the Acerola Cherry is notable for its high Vitamin C content and its use in the production of nutritional supplements, jams, and juices.

Description

The Acerola Cherry tree grows to a height of 3–6 meters. The leaves are evergreen, simple ovate-lanceolate, 5–10 cm long, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced in umbels of 2-5 together, each flower 1–1.5 cm wide, with five pink or red petals.

The fruit is a bright red drupe 1–3 cm in diameter with a mass of 3–5 g. Mature fruits are softer and markedly less acidic than yellow or green ones.

Cultivation

Acerola can be propagated by seed, cutting, or other methods. It prefers dry, sandy soil and full sun, and cannot endure a hard freeze. With proper care, fruiting begins within a year and a half after planting.

Nutritional Value

Acerola cherries are rich in vitamins and minerals. They have one of the highest contents of vitamin C per gram of fruit. They are also a good source of vitamin A, calcium, and potassium.

Uses

Acerola is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of coughs, colds, and diarrhea. It is also used in the food industry for its high vitamin C content, and is a natural preservative.

See Also

• List of culinary fruits
• Vitamin C
• Malpighiaceae